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11/03/2017

Hey! It's my birthday!

Hi creative friends! It's my annual birthday post! Boy doesn't it seem like I just did this! Another year, another trip around the sun, more lessons, and more wrinkles! This year I am 53. That doesn't even sound right! LOL. This year has been a little (a lot) crazy and I feel like I am having a hard time keeping up. I look in the mirror and I see a wiser woman with more experience. Sometimes I catch a glimpse of my mom looking back at me. I feel like the past year had so much for me to learn. I'm feeling like I finally am 'getting it' and I'm looking forward to a new year to celebrate! I'm having a mellow birthday so far. The hubs brought me bagels and Starbucks in bed. It's misty-raining outside and we're all cozy. I made a cooooool craft project (I'll share below) and then in a bit I think we'll go out and do some running around and visiting friends. It's funny as you get older, the actual day of your birthday isn't as important as the contact with your loved ones. I LOOOOOOVE all the handmade cards I've received and I love that my friends want to get together to celebrate. Those are the important things! Yesterday the hubs and I went exploring at one of our local State Parks and we had the entire place to ourselves! I'll share some pictures at the end of my post. Happy Friday friends! I hope you have a wonderful weekend! XOXOXO Be sure to come back by on Monday for the launch of the newest Hero Arts Kit!

So my craft project for today has nothing to do with paper! I made a terrarium! SOOO fun! I bought all of the stuff at our local nursery a week or so ago and it's all been sitting in our kitchen since. I thought today would be the perfect day for a quick and easy project. It came out really nice I think. I want to make a bunch of these! The cloche is kind of expensive, but everything else is really inexpensive. I think this would be a great class. I might see if I can find the items for a good enough price to host a workshop or something. Let me know what you think! I put in three tiny plants and some little mushrooms from my craft stash. It going to sit in my studio so I can enjoy it all the time. It just looks so fresh. You buy the rocks, the soil and the moss and it's just a matter of layering everything and planting the plants. Couldn't be easier!

Have you ever made a terrarium? I think we made one years ago in school - but nothing this fancy for sure! I hope you'll try it! There were about 20 kinds of little plants to choose from. I liked the bright greens of these three.

And, as a tradition, I always have my husband take my photo on my birthday. Usually I hate to have my picture taken, but I do like to document the occasion every year on my birthday. He took this one yesterday when we were out exploring. So, yeah, that's me! LOL.

All of the pictures in the rest of my post are from the Empire Mine California State Park in Grass Valley, California. This is about a 40 minute drive from our house, and what a hidden gem of a park. It's sooooo beautiful and peaceful. Especially yesterday. We were the ONLY people there! It was misty and kind of cold out...but that is my favorite weather so it didn't bother me one bit. This is an old gold mine in the Sierra Foothills and was really active in the gold rush days! CLICK HERE to read more about the park.

Lots of giant gorgeous trees, and pretty walkways...

Fall in California usually means yellow and orange leaves. We do not get the bright vivid reds here too much. These are oak leaves.

So this is the 'cottage' on the property where the owner would stay from time to time. (not his primary residence!!) It's amazing and made from stone and brick. Stunning!

That front door is pretty fancy!!!

I fell IN LOVE with this pretty courtyard in the back of the cottage. I took about 30 pictures! Ha. It felt like a little bit of Europe! I love the colors and the contrast of the stone, the brick, the doors and the pretty flowers. I couldn't resist clicking away with my camera!

The entire property has the wonderful English gardens, lined with holly bushes and trellises. Of course, it's November, so most everything is dormant and or dead for the year. I managed to find some pretty flowers and plants anyway though!

Thanks for coming by today! Have a wonderful, happy, fun weekend! XOXO

Your photos are beautiful, as always. We've been to the Empire Mine a few times, but not in November/December. We'll have to try it.
Happy birthday to one of my favorite bloggers! You always create lovely things!

Happy Birthday! It looks like you really embraced your day, which is awesome. I love your terrarium and the pictures you took are just amazing. Glad you had a great birthday and my wish for you is that you have an amazing year as well.

Wanda
Happiest of birthdays to you! I love the terrarium although I'm not even very good at keeping those alive! Very pretty though. And I just love all the photos of the beautiful park. Really. I love them. Thank you for that gift of them!!

Happy Birthday to you Wanda!Thanks for sharing your adventure at the state park and the great photos. I am in Dublin, CA and it would take us about 2 hours 40 minutes to get there. Sometime when I am in that area I want to check it out. That terrarium is so nice!

Happy Birthday again my sweet friend! Such a cute terrarium, I love the colors, shape and the cloche top. Omg the entrance to the mine park is beautiful, loooove those huge rusty urns. The cottage is amazing, I’d love to make it my primary residence, lol. Your pics are gorgeous as always, I can’t get over the size of that leaf! Definitely one of the places I’d want you to take me, I love seeing old historical things. Well I’m sure you were spoiled by Mark. Hope the rest of your weekend is wonderful and the start to a fabulous year a head, you deserve it. 😘😘😘

Wonderful post, Wanda!! Happy Birthday wishes to you!! Here's to a terrific new year with just enough adventure and excitement!!
Your photos are enchanting. Love the back courtyard with the blue doors, the stone, the brick and the flowers!!
:)

Beautiful Birthday Wishes Wanda! What a lovely day you had including creating this precious live Tererrium! I just love plants, and dirt and greenery! Love your beautiful glass cloche what a treasure! The drive to the park did not disappoint! You found some gems to photo and experience in the park as well! I just love the texture and colors in the Cottage you visited. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your Birthday Weekend!

Happy Birthday, Wanda.
You are looking great. I sometimes look in the mirror and think the not inexpensive moisturiser I use is failing to deliver! Then I smile and think about what really matters.
It is great fun trying a new crafty project, isn't it.? I went on a lampshade making course last night and am thrilled with my new shade.....of course I need a new base now.

Gorgeous photo's what an amazing place to visit!!
must have made it extra special to be there without others walking around...
So happy to hear you had a great B-day with may cards and friends!!
Hugs Holly.

Happy Birthday!!! I hope you had the most wonderful day and continue the celebrations!! I celebrate as long as anyone wants to, this year was the whole month of September and my birthday is on the first! 😂🎉👏🏻👍🏻
I'd love the make the terrarium...if we only lived closer.
Kick up those heels and celebrate fabulous YOU!!
XoXoX,
Jeanette